gcd: governor s council on disability · 2020-06-01 · gcd: governor’s council on disability...
TRANSCRIPT
This year marks an important milestone for the
disability community! On July 26, 2020, we will
celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The Governor’s Council on Disability, in
collaboration with several partnering agencies, will be hosting an event to honor this
important anniversary on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the first floor
rotunda of the State Capitol in Jefferson City. Invited speakers include Governor Parson,
Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin, and Missouri Youth
Leadership Forum alumna Madelynn Hubbs. A local musician, Sam Doman, will provide a
musical performance. In addition, we will honor and celebrate the legacy of former
Council member and state legislator Chuck Graham, who passed away on May 19th.
More information about the ADA30 celebration and the tentative agenda can be found on
our website at https://disability.mo.gov/ada30.htm.
Please participate in our survey to gather input from Missouri citizens on the successes
and accomplishments of the ADA and to share visions for an inclusive, accessible future. If
you have not taken this survey, please go to https://surveymonkey.com/r/KRKZ2K2 to
participate. The survey will close on June 30th.
If you are looking for ideas of what you can do to celebrate the ADA and promote inclusion
in your own communities, please visit the ADA National Network’s website at https://
www.adaanniversary.org/ideas-celebrate-ada
Inside this
Issue
Page 1:
Celebrating the
Anniversary of the
ADA
Disability
Employment
Awareness Month
Poster Contest
Page 2:
2020 Legislative
Session comes to a
close
COVID-19 Resources
Page 3:
Regional Leadership
Forums coming this
fall
Celebrating 2020
Graduates
Page 4:
World Elder Abuse
Awareness webinar
series
Upcoming Events
Volume 6, Number 3, June 2020
Governor’s Council on Disability
GCD: Governor’s Council on
Disability
Celebrating the Anniversary of the ADA by Claudia Browner
Disability Employment Awareness
Month Poster Contest
GCD is now accepting entries for this year’s poster contest to
raise awareness about the importance of employment
inclusion. How has the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
impacted employment? Artists are encouraged to reference the
30th anniversary of the ADA in their artwork.
More information and Poster Contest Entry Forms are
available at: https://disability.mo.gov/gcd/PosterContest/
Please submit your artwork before the August 1 deadline.
Page 2 GCD: Governor’s Council on Disability
The 2020 legislative session has now finished. What began as a typical session in March and
April turned into a session the likes of which have not been seen before. Individual bills took
a backseat to ensuring COVID-19 funds were allocated within the state and the fiscal year
2021 state budget was passed by the May 8th deadline. During the last two weeks of the
session, many bills were combined with others in hopes of getting as many priorities passed
as possible.
Several bills that have been tracked in GCD’s weekly Legislative Update ended up in these
bills. They include individuals being able to have a medical alert notification placed on a
driver’s license or state ID, fire protection districts having epi-pens, determination of organ
donation receipt not being based on disability in most cases, living organ donor status being
the sole factor in insurance decisions, breast cancer screening insurance mandates, the
development of long-term care savings accounts to pay for designated beneficiaries long-
term care expenses, raising awareness of the importance of organ donation in minority populations, designating Deaf
Awareness Month, mental health awareness, designating Buddy Check 22 Day, commercial driver’s license
accommodations, personal care assistance services vendor requirements, and changes to state service dog laws which
will be discussed in more detail below.
House Bill 1387 was passed as a stand-alone bill. It allows electronic monitoring devices to be placed in the rooms of
long-term care facility residents.
The law requiring all individuals operating or riding a motorcycle changed. The final version is different than the
motorcycle helmet bills tracked this session. Individuals who are age 26 or older can operate a motorcycle without a
helmet as long as they have a full license and have proper insurance. Those under age 26 or who have only a permit must
wear a helmet while operating or riding a motorcycle. It also does not allow for any ordinances or laws which require
helmets to be worn. The changes are part of House Bill 1963.
As part of Senate Bill 656, members of eligible military families who are not MO residents but are residing in MO as part
of military service are to receive developmental disability services while in MO. These services are temporarily suspended
for military family members who are MO residents but move out of state due to military service.
Senate Bill 644 and part of Senate Bill 656 change the definition of service dog in state statute and place the state
definition more in line with federal law. Both bills ensure the definition is used in all service dog statutes. Mental health
or psychiatric service dogs are added as a type of dog joining Guide Dog, Hearing Dog, Mobility Dog, Search and Rescue
Dog, Medical Alert/Response Dog, and Service Dog Team. Misrepresentation of a service dog and assistance animal is
also defined. Finally, they require our office to create an informational placard for businesses and brochures for business
owners, landlords, and tenants. More specifics about those aspects will be shared in a future newsletter article should
Governor Parson approve of the bill or bills.
As a reminder, in order for any bills passed by the General Assembly to become law, they must not be vetoed by Governor
Parson.
COVID-19 Resources
If you are looking for information and resources about the coronavirus pandemic, specifically
in regards to individuals with disabilities, please visit our COVID-19 website. The information
is frequently updated and new resources are being added as they become available.
https://disability.mo.gov/covid-19.htm
2020 Legislative Session comes to a close by Laura Mueth
Page 3 GCD: Governor’s Council on Disability
Celebrating our 2020 Graduates
by Rachel Rackers
The 2019-2020 school year turned out very different than expected for many
Missouri high school students, especially for the seniors who were looking
forward to all of the memorable events that come with senior year, such as
prom and, of course, graduation.
Sixteen of our Missouri Youth Leadership Forum alumni were seniors this
year and we want to celebrate their accomplishments!
We present to you the 2020 High School graduates—Samuel Andersen,
Sophie Bond, Courtney Bonner, Bailey Brees, Izzy Collins, Brett DeClue,
Nikohlas Gash, Sean Hays, Malea Jackson, Nathaniel Lewis, Caden Martin,
Lydia Olmsted, Alison Politte, Reece Pellegrin, Talon Pellegrin, and Duncan
Waltrip.
Congratulations and best wishes for your future!!
The 2020 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum (MO-YLF) was set to take place from
July 14-18 at the University of Missouri campus in Columbia. Unfortunately, due
to the COVID-19 pandemic, this summer’s MO-YLF has been canceled. Our
planning team is saddened by the cancellation, but the well-being and safety of
everyone is important to all of us.
On a happier note, the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum is offering four, one day
Regional Leadership Forums (RLF) for students with disabilities (ages 16-21) this
fall!
Our team is looking forward to connecting with youth throughout different parts of
the state. During each RLF, the youth will get a small glimpse into what the
Missouri Youth Leadership Forum is and also build connections with local alumni,
agencies, employers, etc.
Dates for 2020 Regional Leadership Forums (RLF) are:
September 26th in Jefferson City
October 3rd in Kansas City
October 17th in Springfield
November 7th in Cape Girardeau
Please help us share this exciting opportunity with students, parents, teachers and colleagues. Applications are now
being accepted!
For more information or to apply, visit our website at https://disability.mo.gov/gcd/ylf.htm
Regional Leadership Forums coming this fall by Rachel Rackers
Missouri Governor’s
Council on Disability
Members
Yvonne Wright, Chair,
New Bloomfield
Joan Bergstrom, Ed. D,
Lee’s Summit
Charles Comstock,
Kirksville
Betty Davidson, Ph.D.,
St. Louis
Ronald Hack,
St. Louis
Chip Hailey,
Joplin
Rosemary Hendon,
West Plains
Katie Jones,
St. Charles
Kim Lackey,
St. Louis
Elijah Mayfield,
Jefferson City
DeAnna Noriega,
Columbia
Susan Orton,
Creve Coeur
Andrew Sartorius,
Jefferson City
Lesia Shelton,
Buffalo
Opeoluwa Sotonwa,
Jefferson City
James Trout,
St. Louis
Robert Wallace,
St. Louis
Missouri Governor’s
Council on Disability Staff
Members
Claudia Browner,
Executive Director
Laura Mueth,
Disability Program
Specialist
Rachel Rackers,
Disability Program
Specialist
Jessica Zimmer,
Administrative Office
Support Assistant
Upcoming Events
July 28, 2020 ADA30—Anniversary Celebration, State Capitol, Jefferson City
Sept. 10-13,2020 Leadership Development Program for Deaf/HH, Fulton
Sept. 26, 2020 Regional Leadership Forum, Jefferson City
October 3, 2020 Regional Leadership Forum, Kansas City
October 15-18, 2020 MCDHH Interpreters Conference, Lake Ozark
October 17, 2020 Regional Leadership Forum, Springfield
October 25-27, 2020 MRA (Missouri Rehab Association) Conference, Lake Ozark
November 7, 2020 Regional Leadership Forum, Cape Girardeau
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is observed on June 15 each year to promote a better
understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural,
social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.
In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness
Day, there will be a series of four free webinars
throughout the month of June that are designed
to raise awareness of elder abuse risk factors in
the current pandemic.
The 45-minute webinars are being hosted by
The St. Louis Elder Financial Protection
Multidisciplinary Team and The Oasis Institute.
To register for the webinar(s), please email
More information about World Elder Abuse
Awareness Day can be found on the
Administration for Community Living (ACL)
website at
https://acl.gov/news-and-events/events-and-observances/world-elder-abuse-awareness-
day
World Elder Abuse Awareness Webinar Series
by Claudia Browner